Collapsible crate.



ST. GEORGE CRAIG.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1. i915.

Patented Nov. 9, l9l5.-

ll ll l ll lllllll iq Wadi Macao COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

' Application filed March 1, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ST. GEORGE CRAIG, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Clarksville, county of Montgomery, State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Crates.

The object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive, simple and strong crate for the shipment of vegetables, fruits, etc., which, upon being emptied, may be opened out flat for compactness in transportation back to the shipper, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of my crate closed; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the crate opened out fiat for transportation; F ig. 3 a bottom view of the crate closed; and Fig. 4: a detail vertical sectional view showing the cover standing open.

My crate consists of two or more flat steel bands a whose normal tendency is to straighten out, these bands being connected by a series of parallel bars or staves b. At one end of each band is formed a slot 0 and at its other end is affixed a staple (Z, so that when the bands are bent or sprung into circular form, to produce a substantially cylindrical crate, the staples may be inserted through the slots and thus hold the bands in their circular shape against their own tendency to straighten out. A suitable latch hook e or other device may be employed to prevent the staples accidentally withdrawing from the slots.

The bottom of the crate consists of a single circular plate or board 7 hinged to the inner side of one of the middle slats in such manner as to swing inwardly. l/Vhen the ends of the bands are brought together and locked in the manner above set forth, this bottom board is swung downwardly so as to rest upon a series of inwardly projecting lugs g fastened to a number of the other slats, so that when the crate is packed or filled, the bottom will be held down against these lugs by pressure of the contents.

The lid or cover of the crate is a circular plate or board it hinged to the upper end of one of the middle slats in such manner as to swing upwardly and outwardly. The diameter of the lid is such that when it is swung down, after the crate is formed, it will rest on the upper ends of the staves,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Serial No. 11,204.

and thus completely cover the upper end of the crate. The lid may be fastened in place in any suitable manner, but I prefer to employ a cord or wire 2', fastened to the lid and looped down under the upper one of the bands (4 and having its ends fastened together by a wax or lead seal, thereby preventing the lid being opened without breaking the seal or cutting the wire or cord and thus leaving evidence of tampering. One

leaf of the hinge 7' connecting the lid to the stave is fastened to the inner face of the stave at the top thereof and the other leaf of the hinge is fastened to the unde s' .e of the lid at a point back from it s edge, and

at the point where the hinge is" connected a notch 7c formed in the edge of the lid, the width of this notchb eing approximately the same as the width of the stave, so that when the lid is swung to open position, the bottom of the notch will rest upon the upper end of the stave, thus supporting the lid in an upright position.

It will be seen that when the ends of the bands are unlocked, the bands will instantly,

by their inherent elasticity, straighten out,

thus automatically completely collapsing the crate, and leaving them flat and thus in the most compact shape for transportation. Then collapsed the bottom and the lid may be folded flat over upon the slats, as is obvious.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

A collapsible crate consisting of two bands and a series of spaced slats connected thereto being co-extensive with the exterior area of the top of the crate, so as to fit down on the top edges of the slats, the lid hinge being fastened to the interior of the lid and to one of the slats and the lid having its edge notched out coincident with the hinge, for

the purpose set forth.

In testlmony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ST. GEORGE CRAIG.

Witnesses MARY N. MORRISON, Gno. Fonr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

